A
sequel to a hit film finds it
easy to grab attention because
of the good faith created by
its predecessor. A sequel finds
it difficult to maintain the
initial enthusiasm for the very
same reason. It has got to live
up to its predecessor or perish.
Does the Casanova’s second
coming do the former or latter?

When you enter theaters to watch
Naan Avan Illai there is no dilemma
as to what is expected on screen.
We know for sure that one fraudulent
womanizer is going to con four
or five women of all their money
and vanish into thin air leaving
no traces of his identity. We
know who has done, what and
why; only how he does it can
interest us. In this kind of
a film one cannot overemphasize
the importance of a tight and
engaging screenplay and sadly
for the makers of Naan Avan Illai
2, it is the biggest pitfall
of the movie. It might not be
wrong to say that the screenplay
is practically non-existent
and it seems to be a whole lot
of glamorous portions put together
to make a 2 hour something movie.

One might argue that even the first part
too looked pretty much like a glamour parade.
But, there was also the plot of the police
being on the trail of this serial womanizer,
his eventual arrest and an interesting courtroom
battle where the accused becomes the acquitted
through continuous denial and careful arguments.
This element goes missing here. The law
is not after him. The women who have been
subject to his treachery do try to get back
at him together, but it is too weak and
too late in the movie to salvage lost interest.
It is a timid sort of a response to a huge
fraud that has been committed and is snuffed
out pretty nonchalantly by the criminal;
does not make for engaging viewing at all.
It is as if the Casanova is walking from
room to room through doors that open at
a click; the women fall so easily into his
trap. He moves from one woman to the next,
easily accomplishes his mission and takes
away a huge amount of money. It is like
different episodes of the Casanova’s
exploits being put together. The only connecting
subplot comes in the form of Sangeetha’s
character that plays a handicapped immigrant
Sri Lankan widow. She is facing a tough
situation regarding the custody of her only
child. She needs money to settle the issue
and surprisingly our Casanova comes to her
aid, giving her the required amount which
of course has been aggregated from his games
with many innocent women. The climax too
is on expected lines. He easily evades the
efforts of the wronged women to corner him
and escapes to some distant place where
he is ready to begin his games afresh. The
means that another sequel is on the minds
of the makers!

Quite clearly, the idea was to carry forward
the momentum provided by the success of
the predecessor. But with the screenplay
failing, Naan Avan Illai loses brand value.
The makers have gone full throttle when
it comes to glamour which is along expected
lines, which also justifies the A rating.
But, even those who are looking for a glamour
fest might find the proceedings uninteresting.
Jeevan has had a field day with four heroines;
he does his usual stuff as the man who can
enchant any woman. The four heroines have
nothing but glamour to provide, as per the
script’s requirement. Sangeetha’s
role has the potential to give her some
scope for performance, but her wings too
are cut off by the screenplay. Music, camera
and other technical aspects don’t
impress much, especially because the proceedings
are jaded.

Naan Avan Illai 2 tries to repeat the 2007
success story. But, with a weak foundation,
it never really stands up. High on glamour,
low on interest, it is definitely not an
ideal follow up to the prequel.